"Let's make GD ROM emulation happen" Facebook group.

^^ approaching an ethical barrier, FAST!
...
keep in mind, it's ALL about the love of the system why this is done.
true, ALL cost are to be mitigated PLUS some profit for time spent developing/PRODUCING this device..
it ends there!
a balance is to be drawn, a LOT of casts (aka: fanbags) are still in action, especially if this fpga becomes a reality because it won't matter if the gdi assembly took a whacking shit!
it's NOT as 'niche' as the sales pitch, i CAN'T run fast enough from the 'sega i-PRETENTIOUS-TWAT-phone' users!
...
let the boys handle their shit, they know what they're doing! :friendly_wink:

 

The main issue with Using the raspberry pi(as most user friendly development boards), is there isn't a real time OS developed for it(most linux distros are not realtime). This makes very difficult to do timing intensive tasks. Making of a optical drive emulator is all about timing.

Now the arduino compatible teensy might work.

 

G1-IDE "advance" ))) prototype (v1)



http://s018.radikal.ru/i521/1405/1f/0bb978608c2c.png

 

actually my goal is to try order assembled pcb. as it based on cheap parts, small size than dcio

 

Well by default the linux kernel is not realtime, but that is easily changable:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pro_Audio#Realtime_Kernel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTLinux

 

What about Arduino instead of RaspberryPi?

 

The Arduino is based around a fairly low-power AVR microcontroller, I highly doubt it'd have the throughput or enough input lines for this project. While there might be a demo board based around a higher performance AVR or ARM microcontroller you could buy off the shelf that'd be up to the task, they wouldn't have the price point of the incredibly popular boards like the Arduino. The most cost effective way to make this work is to buy the exact microcontroller you need at a decent volume, and mount it to a custom board made for this purpose. You'd almost certainly be able to sell a custom made device like this for less than you could buy a microcontroller demo board powerful enough for this task. That will almost certainly change in the future, but for now, that's the way it is.

 

Very cool cybdyn. Is this a separate project from DCIO?

 

dcio is good for development, tests. maybe better say it's next stage or another project w/ same aim))) just to make things closer to real life.
to make prototype that works is one thing, and another- make it for sell : simple, cheap, easy in mass production.

and -as you would like - it's for HDD)))

 

^^ quoting that for posterity! :friendly_wink: (rated, i think?!)

 

also, just wanna try another cheap mcu w/ good features. (I2S -pcm like IF, usb-otg). so i'm almost ready to order PCBA.



http://s019.radikal.ru/i643/1405/b1/4b9c774735e5.png

 

I got the new boards today, and they have the holes in them! Thank goodness. I also received all the parts (except the GD connector) so I'll be able to solder one up later.

 

Great news! Looking forward to hearing about your results!

 

^^ and if this item gets in a working state, could videos be posted?
thanks a lot. nthego:

 

Amiga - Of course! I assume you mean when it's running games? I wouldn't expect that for quite a while!

However, I did assemble a board and make one of the LEDs light up! Not blinking yet, just lit. But this proves the microcontroller works, which is great.

 

^^ great stuff!
aye, didn't want to come out and say it aloud, but yeah.
anyway, all in good time!
appreciate the update! :friendly_wink:

 

Looks good. but it's just a beginning of hard work)))

i ordered gd conn from digi-key, but now i see it's only for 3,000 pcs.
so for prototype maybe use gd-conn from original gd-board, maybe someone can sell/send to you broken board for this part.

 

@Mario: Great job! And great amount of job ahead! Only the logic is missing right?

@cybdyn: Helder posted this link some days ago for the connector you're looking for I think (http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/52584-0579-Board-to-Board-Mezzanine_832396094.html). You could also go there (http://www.molex.com/molex/products/datasheet.jsp?part=active/0525840579_PCB_RECEPTACLES.xml) and request a few samples.

 

@FamilyGuy - Yeah, only all the programming is missing. The board was never the difficult part; now I have to do all the programming. First up will be speed tests to see if I can respond to rising and falling signals fast enough. That makes up the entire basis of the project (responding to the Dreamcast's register requests). If it can't do that in time, then the whole project will be bust. A good learning experience, though.

A couple weeks ago I requested 20 pieces of that connector from Molex directly and they said they don't have any, and it will be at least three weeks before they could get some. I have not heard from them since.
I'm going to try asking Deunan where he's getting his.

 

Mario, you didn't try to order conn's from alibaba (as FamilyGuy left link)?